An eight-year-old girl from Low Hill, Wolverhampton, required emergency brain surgery after doctors allegedly misdiagnosed her condition as viral tonsillitis. Lacie Feeney, who has cerebral palsy and developmental delays due to being born at 26 weeks, has had a brain drain since infancy. Her mother, Kelly Williams, claims that hospital staff failed to conduct proper tests despite her daughter's complex medical history.
Initial Misdiagnosis
In March, Lacie fell at school and was taken to New Cross Hospital, where she was diagnosed with a mild concussion. Kelly believes that doctors should have performed a CT scan given Lacie's background, stating, "They should have given her a CT scan with her history - they didn't investigate it at all." When Lacie later developed severe headaches, she was brought back to the hospital, but doctors refused a CT scan due to radiation concerns. Instead, she was diagnosed with viral tonsillitis and sent home without antibiotics.
Worsening Condition
Lacie's headaches intensified, leaving her "crying in pain." A subsequent CT scan revealed shadows on her brain, and doctors discovered that her brain drain was blocked. She was urgently transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital for emergency surgery.
Hospital Response
A Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust spokesperson confirmed that they are investigating the family's formal complaint. The trust has not yet released further details.
